Vanishing footlight for stages



Oct. 22, 1929.

H. V. HARDNG VANISHING FOOTLIGHT FOR STAGES Filed Sept. 18, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Oct. 22, 1929. H. v. HARDING 1,732,600

VANISHING FooTLIGHT Fon STAGES Filed Sept. 18, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 s N NN Patented Get. 22, 1929 narran sTATss PATENT OFFICE HOWARD v. HARDING, or NRW YORK, N. Y., AssIGNoR To PETER CLARK, ING., OR NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NRW YORK,

VANISHING FOOTLIGHT FOR STAGES Application led September 18, 1928. Serial No. 306,772.

This invention relates to improvements in of links, 21, which are pivoted as at 22 to a stages for theatres and more particularly to support 23 on the stationary stage. The vanishing footlights for stages. frame is adapted to swing on these links. A

Objects rocker arm, 24, is provided on a pivot shaft,

25, on a floor or base, 26,1n the well and the 55 Among the principal Objects which the in* ends of the rocker arm have connecting rods, vention has in view are :-I`O provide a stage 27 and 28, fastened respectively to section, 13 construction whereby the footlights may be and frame 20. The movements of the rocher concealed beneath the stage when not in use arm may be obtained by rotation of pivot lo oi` brought above the stage into operative po* shaft, 25, as by an electric motor or similar 60 sition for illumination when desired; to prooperating mechanism (not shown). 4 vide novel means for moving the footlights In the operation and functioning of the from one position to the other; to construct construction, the rocker arm may assume one the stage to allow ready movement of the footof two positions, that of Figure 1 or that of lights and change from operative to inopera- Figure 2. In the iirst of these positions, F ige5 tive positions thereof; and generally to simure 1,` the rear movable stage section 13 is plify, improve and perfect the structure and lower-ed so as to slope or dip downward as in arrangement. the old footliglit gutter, the sections 15 and 16 Dyna/0717,98 are elevated with projectors 19 and supporting parts, and the projectors are in operative 70 Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in position to illuminate the stage. The sections section of a stage and vanishing footlights 15 and 16 swing upward on their hinge and constructed in accordance with the present pivot to allow tliefelevation ofthe projectors invention and showing the footlights in 0pto cast light up along section 13. In the laterative position for stage illumination; `ter position, Figure 2, the section 13 is raised 75 Figure 2 is a similar view but with the footand sections 15 and 16 lowered into horizontal lights in inoperative position and concealed alignment and to form a horizontal continuabeneath the stage. tion of the rest of the stage. In this posi- Desmpton tion, thefootlights are concealed beneath the stage in inoperative position. 80

in Clltall, lille 1111761113101). 1S GIDbOClQCl 111 it i movelngntg 0f the parts fpoln 011e Poggiconstruction which comprises a stationary tion to the other are achieved wry easily stage portion, 10, of customary character sup-` and swiftly, The mechanisms provide for ported by suitable columns or struts, 11. The sm00th7anfls1ent Changes 0f position, These forepart of the stage is provided With a Well, mechanisms are simple but provevery efficient 85 12, which is covered in part and at the rear and reliablein service. A. nice feature is due by a movable stage section, 13, pivoted as at to the separate formationsof the parts, which 111 to the stationary stage. The remainder of may be constructedandassembled at low cost the well is covered by movable sections, 15 and and with minimum labor. 16. Section 15 is hinged to 16 as at 17 while While the details herein Shown` are pre- 9o the section 16 is pivoted as at 18 to the front ferred, variations and alterations may be of the stage. The hinge and pivot details i made therein in practice and I ldesire to be may be of any desired or preferred characters limited only by the state ofthe prior art and in the practice of the invention, as these dethescope of the appendedv claims. tails are not essential. Claims: 95

rilhe footlights or elecric light projectors, 1. An apparatus of the kind described, 19, are mounted on a movable frame, 20, comprising a stationary stage portion havwhich is attached to the bottom of section 15 ing a well near its front, a movable stage secso that frame, projectors and section move as tion pivoted to the rear edge of said well7 a a unit. The frame, 20, is fastened to the ends second movable stage section associated with X00 the front edge of the well, said sections being adaptedto be moved into horizontal alignment with the stationary stage, a light projector disposed below the second movable section, and means for simultaneously swinging the first stage. section downward on its pivot to a forwardly dipping position and the second stage'section and light projector to an elevated position where the, projector casts its light up along the first section on to the4 stage, the light projector being adapted to be disposed in concealed position beneath the movable stage sections when the latter are in horizontal alignment with the rest of` the stage. Y Y

2. An apparatus; of the kind described, comp-rising a stationary stage portion having a well ne'ar'its front, a movable stage section pivoted' to the rear edge of said well, a second movable stage section associated with lthe front edge ofthe well, said sections being e v adapted to be moved into'horizontal alignment with the stationary stage, a light projector disposed below the second movable section, and' means for simultaneously swinging the first stage section downward on its l pivot. to Ia forwardly dipping position and the second stage section and light projector to ,an elevated position where t-he projector casts its light up' along the first section on to the stage, the light projector being adapted tovbe disposed in concealed position beneath the movable-stage sections when the latter are in horizontal alignment with the rest of the stage, said means comprising a rockerarrn kand" connecting rods attached tothe ends thereof and fastened respectively to the first movable stage section and to the light projector.L

3*. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a stationary stage portion having a well atl its front end, a movable stage section pivoted to the rear edge of thewell and means for lowering'the mov'abletstage section into `a forwardly dipping position and forv raising the Ystage section, into horizontal alignment with the'stationary' stage ortion..V

LL 'An apparatus of tfe kind described comprisi'ng a stationary stage portion having well'at its front end, `a movable, stage section pivoted tothe rear edge of the well and means.; for lowering' the movable stage section into a forwardly dipping position and for raising the stagesection into horizontal 'alignment 'with the stationar. stage portion, f a light projector positioned o cast its light up' alo-ngthe movable stage section when the latter-"is lowered.

HOWARD V. HARDING. 

